I'm sorry I haven't entered a new post for a few weeks. I've been in a bit of a "lull" in terms of subjects I feel are best to post to my blog. As this is a type of personal journal for me, I sometimes struggle whether to post details that may be deemed too personal. You are my family and friends and if I am experiencing the frustrating times of life, I'm sure you would be quite understanding. I also wonder if maybe you have read about enough as you can handle about my knee or my niece Morgan... still, I hesitate to show as much candor towards my personal life. Let's just say I've been having "single girl in the city" moments lately. Oh and this doesn't imply they are the Sarah Jessica Parker frivolous type, I've just been a little lonely. ; ) All is well, I assure you! My life has been upended in terms of my friends over the past year as many of them used to stem from my running and triathlon training team. Since I am no longer able to participate in that group, I have been searching for other social circles to join and get involved. As pathetic as it may sound, I have to admit, some days it's easiest to lie on my cozy couch and watch shows I recorded on my TiVo.
As I am sure some of you can empathize with me, I realize this behavior is not getting me anywhere towards where I want to be in my life. Based on this, I've decided I need to get out more and accept as many invitations to be social as possible. Maybe even initiating invitations myself! Imagine that? The result in the last week or so has been more than I expected. I have been enjoying movies and dinners out with new and old friends. On March 8, I'll be embarking on a Point Reyes hike/BBQ with new friends from church. This is all good. I'll keep you posted on any fun events that hopefully arise, I promise! I live in a great city and even though I've been here for some time, there is much to explore. Obviously, this is an area where TiVo will not be able to help me! Hopefully, it will be my couch that is lonely for a while.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy Valentine's Day!
Or as an old friend used to say, "Happy make-everyone-who-is-single-feel-bad Day." Ha. I try not to think about it that way. My day started well. I'm in Los Angeles for for a few days for Spring 2 For Sale and March in-store seasonal signage press checks. I'm staying at a place called Hotel Amarano in Burbank. I've only stayed there once before, but I like it a lot. It's another nice boutique hotel. The rooms are very cozy and comfortable with lovely amenities. I got up this morning and went for a 45 minute walk. The people at the front desk said it's safe residential area so off I went. I meandered up Pass Road, past one of the WB studio sound stages. I learned this afternoon that Gossip Girl films there, so in the future I'll keep an eye out for some of the actors! I hear they sometimes stay at the hotel.
I enjoyed my walk. About 18 minutes in I came upon a developed biking/running path. It was set with bikes on the right side and walkers/runners on the left. I remarked that I thought it was a good thing to discover, but if I were the person who designed it, I would have made some changes to the walk/run side. Now being an "injured" runner, I want unpaved paths. Good, soft earth. It doesn't need to be only dirt, but earth with small rocks, sand and dirt. Like wonderful Crissy Field in SF. You can run/walk there in any weather without getting muddy. Sure, your shoes won't be white long even in the best weather, but it's not slippery mud. That said, I was glad to be out walking at 7:00 AM. I threw in a few lunges, but didn't have much time to make my exercise a "boot camp."
Oh, I also walked at lunchtime on Monday. I've started walking with my coworker Suzanne who talks a mile a minute. It doesn't bother me, I have to admit she is quite entertaining. This past Monday Suzanne was home sick and I didn't have my iPod, so I hit the road with just me in my head. ; ) I walked from my office, around AT&T Park (Home of the SF Giants) almost to Folsom Street and back. That is the typical route, since there is SO much construction going on around our building. Can you say "pile drivers?" My desk sometimes shakes. It's so annoying.
It's about time for them to pull another press sheet so I'm going to sign off. Have a great February 14th everyone!
I enjoyed my walk. About 18 minutes in I came upon a developed biking/running path. It was set with bikes on the right side and walkers/runners on the left. I remarked that I thought it was a good thing to discover, but if I were the person who designed it, I would have made some changes to the walk/run side. Now being an "injured" runner, I want unpaved paths. Good, soft earth. It doesn't need to be only dirt, but earth with small rocks, sand and dirt. Like wonderful Crissy Field in SF. You can run/walk there in any weather without getting muddy. Sure, your shoes won't be white long even in the best weather, but it's not slippery mud. That said, I was glad to be out walking at 7:00 AM. I threw in a few lunges, but didn't have much time to make my exercise a "boot camp."
Oh, I also walked at lunchtime on Monday. I've started walking with my coworker Suzanne who talks a mile a minute. It doesn't bother me, I have to admit she is quite entertaining. This past Monday Suzanne was home sick and I didn't have my iPod, so I hit the road with just me in my head. ; ) I walked from my office, around AT&T Park (Home of the SF Giants) almost to Folsom Street and back. That is the typical route, since there is SO much construction going on around our building. Can you say "pile drivers?" My desk sometimes shakes. It's so annoying.
It's about time for them to pull another press sheet so I'm going to sign off. Have a great February 14th everyone!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The Many Faces of Morgan Ann-Marie
Meg sent me the cutest photos of Morgan yesterday! Check these out...
Grr...
Surprise!
All Smiles
Grr...
Surprise!
All Smiles
Sunday, January 27, 2008
The Shoes
I'm laughing at myself right now. Ha! I'm sitting in bed, under the covers, typing on my laptop. Isn't technology great? You would think a wireless connection would not be necessary in a 500 square foot studio apartment, but alas... it is. I love it! Sure, I have a new desk that is great, but tonight I feel like being cozy and warm. It's nice to be able to be mobile.
Could my need for warmth be the weeks of ongoing rain in San Francisco? We are getting tired of it. I did manage to fit in a one and a half hour walk with my Dad yesterday which was really good. My Dad drove into the city and we caught a break in the storm. We walked from the Marina Green over Fort Mason, to Fisherman's Wharf and back. We finished our outing by eating lunch at Squat & Gobble on Chestnut Street in the Marina. My Dad calculated we must have walked around 6 miles. Not bad for a girl with a bum knee. ; ) All the while I was wearing my new sneaks, my Nike Free 5.0's. Yes, another new pair of shoes. These are the shoes that the author of Brain Training for Runners, Matt Fitzgerald recommended. He calls them "minimalist" running shoes. You know me, I'm all over it. I'll try anything that can possibly help.
Matt's take is that running shoes can actually cause injuries. Until relatively recently in history, humans ran exclusively barefoot. The high-tech, super supportive shoes we run in these days actually make most of us run unnaturally.
This is specifically by overstriding, a major cause of overuse injuries. The rigidity of shoes also prevents the foot from deforming upon ground contact in the natural wavelike pattern that the unshod foot normally uses to absorb impact. As a result, impact forces are sent shooting up the leg, concentrating in the knee, hip, pelvis, or even the lower spine. The Nike Free brand was the first "barefoot running shoe" that encouraged the wearer to run naturally. Matt suggest if you are runner who is currently injured, to consider buying a pair and wearing them once a week for a short run. If you are comfortable in the shoes, you can increase the numbers of runs one by one. Any amount of time you spend in them will likely reduce your injury risk. Like I said, I'm all over it!
Could my need for warmth be the weeks of ongoing rain in San Francisco? We are getting tired of it. I did manage to fit in a one and a half hour walk with my Dad yesterday which was really good. My Dad drove into the city and we caught a break in the storm. We walked from the Marina Green over Fort Mason, to Fisherman's Wharf and back. We finished our outing by eating lunch at Squat & Gobble on Chestnut Street in the Marina. My Dad calculated we must have walked around 6 miles. Not bad for a girl with a bum knee. ; ) All the while I was wearing my new sneaks, my Nike Free 5.0's. Yes, another new pair of shoes. These are the shoes that the author of Brain Training for Runners, Matt Fitzgerald recommended. He calls them "minimalist" running shoes. You know me, I'm all over it. I'll try anything that can possibly help.
Matt's take is that running shoes can actually cause injuries. Until relatively recently in history, humans ran exclusively barefoot. The high-tech, super supportive shoes we run in these days actually make most of us run unnaturally.
This is specifically by overstriding, a major cause of overuse injuries. The rigidity of shoes also prevents the foot from deforming upon ground contact in the natural wavelike pattern that the unshod foot normally uses to absorb impact. As a result, impact forces are sent shooting up the leg, concentrating in the knee, hip, pelvis, or even the lower spine. The Nike Free brand was the first "barefoot running shoe" that encouraged the wearer to run naturally. Matt suggest if you are runner who is currently injured, to consider buying a pair and wearing them once a week for a short run. If you are comfortable in the shoes, you can increase the numbers of runs one by one. Any amount of time you spend in them will likely reduce your injury risk. Like I said, I'm all over it!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
The Latest - Part III
So, I read the book, Brain Training for Runners by Matt Fitzgerald. What I learned... it is exactly the information I have been seeking. Get this. The author, Matt Fitzgerald, had a very similar experience to me with his overuse injury. It was also patellofemoral pain syndrome. Matt was training for the Boston Marathon in late 2002 when it developed in his right knee. After two series of resting then running again, the same pain returned. Matt then decided to see an orthopedist (as I did) and tried taping, anti-inflammatory medication, and physical therapy. "None of these measures helped, so he scheduled me for arthroscopic surgery." His doctor found some fissured cartilage - Chondromalacia (same as me) - so he filed it down to make it smooth. The one difference in our surgeries is that his doctor did not see a problem with his fat pad. Unfortunately, when Matt recovered from his surgery and started running again, his knee degenerated yet again. I can't say the same thing has happened with my knee since I haven't run in over 6 months, but my knee hasn't felt a whole lot better since 3-4 months after the surgery. That is why I haven't tried running yet.
The thing that gave me so much hope in reading Matt's book, is that he pieced together his own "cure puzzle." He found individual measures that helped a little and and accumulated them until he made a complete recovery! It was a long process and from the beginning of his knee pain to the time he was able to complete an entire marathon was 40 months. 3.3 years. Hey, I'm almost 2 years in myself, so if I can find my own "cure puzzle" and recover within a year or so, I will be happy. : ) What is really exciting is that I now have guidance from Matt's book. My Mom asked me several months ago, "Don't you know someone that has gone though the same injury you have?" Up until now, my answer has been no. All of my running friends have experienced injuries, but none have sidelined them for years, the way mine has for me. Now I know of someone with a very similar experience, and what is even better than that? He recovered, and he wrote a book about it!
I won't get into the details in this posting as it would take way too long to write, but here are the basics. Matt's injury prevention findings were a combination of strength exercises, a few small gait modifications, and switching to a pair of minimalist running shoes. He also makes mention of how sitting lends to muscle imbalances and he offers corrective stretches to help alleviate these imbalances. Outside of that, his book goes into great detail on target pace training, cross-training, stress and recovery, nutrition, and more.
Another thing I like about Matt's book is that he includes detailed training plans. I've seen many training plans before, but he even spells out the specific strength exercises and gait cues to do every day and week. Many training plans spell out mileage to run and mention to throw in some strength training, but they rarely state how much and how often. Once I get back to running, I look forward to following one of Matt's plans. Until then, I'll start with the strength exercises, stretches, and shoes. Yes, I bought another pair of shoes. ; ) More details to come!
The thing that gave me so much hope in reading Matt's book, is that he pieced together his own "cure puzzle." He found individual measures that helped a little and and accumulated them until he made a complete recovery! It was a long process and from the beginning of his knee pain to the time he was able to complete an entire marathon was 40 months. 3.3 years. Hey, I'm almost 2 years in myself, so if I can find my own "cure puzzle" and recover within a year or so, I will be happy. : ) What is really exciting is that I now have guidance from Matt's book. My Mom asked me several months ago, "Don't you know someone that has gone though the same injury you have?" Up until now, my answer has been no. All of my running friends have experienced injuries, but none have sidelined them for years, the way mine has for me. Now I know of someone with a very similar experience, and what is even better than that? He recovered, and he wrote a book about it!
I won't get into the details in this posting as it would take way too long to write, but here are the basics. Matt's injury prevention findings were a combination of strength exercises, a few small gait modifications, and switching to a pair of minimalist running shoes. He also makes mention of how sitting lends to muscle imbalances and he offers corrective stretches to help alleviate these imbalances. Outside of that, his book goes into great detail on target pace training, cross-training, stress and recovery, nutrition, and more.
Another thing I like about Matt's book is that he includes detailed training plans. I've seen many training plans before, but he even spells out the specific strength exercises and gait cues to do every day and week. Many training plans spell out mileage to run and mention to throw in some strength training, but they rarely state how much and how often. Once I get back to running, I look forward to following one of Matt's plans. Until then, I'll start with the strength exercises, stretches, and shoes. Yes, I bought another pair of shoes. ; ) More details to come!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Quick Detour
One quick detour from my "The Latest" story. I just got back from a 3-day business trip that took me to Atlanta, GA, then back to the West Coast to Los Angeles, and finally returned to San Francisco yesterday. I stayed at the W Hotel - Perimeter Center in Atlanta then returned to my nice hotel find in Santa Monica, The Ambrose. I had heard great things about W hotels, but had never stayed in one. My sister raved about them when she used to travel to NY
and Chicago for work. I thought the somewhat trendy, eclectic feel of the W hotels may not be my style, but I have to say I enjoyed the W on Tuesday night. Here is a photo of the cute pillow on my bed. BTW, it started snowing in Atlanta 45 minutes after our plane took off for L.A!
On Wednesday night I drove from LAX to The Ambrose. I remembered it as a cozy, quiet place on 20th and Arizona. I checked in and was given my key card with the comment, "We have given you a complimentary upgrade." Nice. My room was on the 4th floor, which is the top floor of this hotel. I noted the vaulted ceilings and fan, but the space wasn't much different than the last room I stayed in. I was hungry and had bought my dinner on the way over, so I sat down to eat it. It had to be maybe an hour later when I decided to look at the view. Then I realized it was a sliding glass door that led out to this wonderful balcony! The Ambrose offers a lovely, organic continental breakfast so I was excited to get my coffee and fruit the next morning to eat it on
my personal balcony. OK, it turns out the morning was a little chilly for sitting outside, but I stuck it out for a little while to enjoy the morning sun. It was a good trip! Oh, and the work part went well too. ; )
and Chicago for work. I thought the somewhat trendy, eclectic feel of the W hotels may not be my style, but I have to say I enjoyed the W on Tuesday night. Here is a photo of the cute pillow on my bed. BTW, it started snowing in Atlanta 45 minutes after our plane took off for L.A! On Wednesday night I drove from LAX to The Ambrose. I remembered it as a cozy, quiet place on 20th and Arizona. I checked in and was given my key card with the comment, "We have given you a complimentary upgrade." Nice. My room was on the 4th floor, which is the top floor of this hotel. I noted the vaulted ceilings and fan, but the space wasn't much different than the last room I stayed in. I was hungry and had bought my dinner on the way over, so I sat down to eat it. It had to be maybe an hour later when I decided to look at the view. Then I realized it was a sliding glass door that led out to this wonderful balcony! The Ambrose offers a lovely, organic continental breakfast so I was excited to get my coffee and fruit the next morning to eat it on
my personal balcony. OK, it turns out the morning was a little chilly for sitting outside, but I stuck it out for a little while to enjoy the morning sun. It was a good trip! Oh, and the work part went well too. ; )
Thursday, January 17, 2008
The Latest - Part II
This is where I need to start to tell a story. Not long after I started to experience patellofemoral pain in my left knee, I read a short article in Triathlete Magazine. It was in the August 2006 issue. The author of the article, Matt Fitzgerald wrote about his overuse running injury and how he recovered from it. The thing about the article that horrified me was that Matt's overuse injury hit him in 2002 and he wasn't able to run a marathon again until 2006. At that time I was only 6 months into my injury and was terrified at the thought it could sideline me for years. I was sure I would not have that experience, but tucked the article away for safe keeping anyway.
A few months ago, I came across the article again and read through it. Matt did not state what his overuse injury was, he simply called it a "maddening series of overuse injuries." I can relate to the "maddening" part. I read the information at the end of the article that said Matt is a coach and has written many training books for runners and triathletes. I decided to "Google" him. In my Internet search, I learned in July 2007 Matt started a web blog through Active.com. I read the blog and realized there was a link where I could email him directly. I sent an email, trying to keep my story as short as possible. I said I was dealing with an overuse knee injury and was glad to read he was running marathons again. I asked him was how he got through it mentally. I was having a hard enough time, I couldn't imagine what he went through as a competitive runner, triathlete, and coach.
It took a while, but in mid December I got an reply from him. This is what he said:
Hi Ali,
I apologize for taking so long to respond to your message. I just discovered it. The thing that did the most to get me through the mental anguish of my long battle with injuries was a line that Tim Noakes wrote in Lore of Running. Namely: "Only a small fraction of true running injuries are not entirely curable by simple techniques..." When feeling frustrated by my injuries I reflected on this line and thought, It has to be true, and in believing it had to be true I believed that I could overcome my injuries, despite all of the seeming evidence to the contrary. So I just kept experimenting until I found a recipe that worked for me. It took a long time, but I never gave up completely. Simply not giving up was perhaps the most important piece of the puzzle.
I suggest you read the chapter on injury prevention in my book Brain Training for Runners. This will give you some practical guidelines in conducting your own experimental search for the key to solving your individual injury puzzle. Good luck!
Matt
A few things came to mind after reading his email. First, I took to heart what he said about being able to cure most running injuries by simple techniques. The second thing that came to mind was, is this guy just trying to sell me his book? Humph... Well, after the New Year I got to thinking about it again and I ordered Matt's book from Amazon. Stay tuned for more information in my next post!
A few months ago, I came across the article again and read through it. Matt did not state what his overuse injury was, he simply called it a "maddening series of overuse injuries." I can relate to the "maddening" part. I read the information at the end of the article that said Matt is a coach and has written many training books for runners and triathletes. I decided to "Google" him. In my Internet search, I learned in July 2007 Matt started a web blog through Active.com. I read the blog and realized there was a link where I could email him directly. I sent an email, trying to keep my story as short as possible. I said I was dealing with an overuse knee injury and was glad to read he was running marathons again. I asked him was how he got through it mentally. I was having a hard enough time, I couldn't imagine what he went through as a competitive runner, triathlete, and coach.
It took a while, but in mid December I got an reply from him. This is what he said:
Hi Ali,
I apologize for taking so long to respond to your message. I just discovered it. The thing that did the most to get me through the mental anguish of my long battle with injuries was a line that Tim Noakes wrote in Lore of Running. Namely: "Only a small fraction of true running injuries are not entirely curable by simple techniques..." When feeling frustrated by my injuries I reflected on this line and thought, It has to be true, and in believing it had to be true I believed that I could overcome my injuries, despite all of the seeming evidence to the contrary. So I just kept experimenting until I found a recipe that worked for me. It took a long time, but I never gave up completely. Simply not giving up was perhaps the most important piece of the puzzle.
I suggest you read the chapter on injury prevention in my book Brain Training for Runners. This will give you some practical guidelines in conducting your own experimental search for the key to solving your individual injury puzzle. Good luck!
Matt
A few things came to mind after reading his email. First, I took to heart what he said about being able to cure most running injuries by simple techniques. The second thing that came to mind was, is this guy just trying to sell me his book? Humph... Well, after the New Year I got to thinking about it again and I ordered Matt's book from Amazon. Stay tuned for more information in my next post!
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